3D software

*13* · #1 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 08:12 AM

I'd like to be able to design my own car body. Just playing around(for now)so, free software is what I'm looking at for the time being. I know there are some free software options out there but, would rather not put 25 hours into the program to decide, or find out, I should be using another. Anyone have any experience or suggestions concerning any of the free software options?
I've used sketchup & it isn't exactly ideal for car stuff. So something different would be better

indianamoon · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 08:21 AM

Considering the complexity of the surfaces on a car body, I doubt that any of the free packages would do what you are looking to accomplish. Look at a package that is good at working with surfaces. Some cad programs work with solids better than surfaces and vice versa. I use VX, now ZW, which was developed here in the states as a proprietary cad/cam software for Samsung, then subsequently sold to the Chinese. However, development was kept in Florida. You can download various versions for a free 30 day trial and there used to be lots of tutorials available so you could learn it on your own. We do full 3d cad design including complex blended surfaces, so the software is at least as capable as I am. E-mail me if you have questions

*13* · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 08:32 AM

Like I said, I'm just looking to screw around with it, right now. I designed a car in sketchup & it was doable but, painfully laborious. I don't want to commit to a trial program with a short term window. & "right now" I don't want to pay good money for something I may use for a couple weeks. I appreciate the info & it may be of future use. I looked at rhinoceros & it looked like a lot of fun. I just can't throw that kind of money into brainfart

lippy · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 11:32 AM

I use SketchUp for fooling around, but to design something like a car body you might want to get access to something like Solidworks.

patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 04:01 PM

Have one of your kids, or grandkids, or the kid next door, get you a student edition of your choice of CAD software. Or, just have the kid download it with a torrent file.

*13* · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Have one of your kids, or grandkids, or the kid next door, get you a student edition of your choice of CAD software. Or, just have the kid download it with a torrent file.

I tried that but,he's only 7 months old. I'm still slightly ahead of him technically. I'll give him another shot at it in a couple weeks

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *13*

I tried that but,he's only 7 months old. I'm still slightly ahead of him technically. I'll give him another shot at it in a couple weeks

Dang, I feel old now....

*13* · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2015, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Dang, I feel old now....

We aren't exactly young

.

Dominik · #9 (**permalink**) 11-28-2015, 10:28 PM

Not sure if this site will help, but the are definitely working the technology... I bought a file from them for a Maserati and had my wood door and window maker cut a "ribcage" to use as body buck.

https://www.cgtrader.com/

55312 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-29-2015, 04:59 AM

Hyde

Get a hold of John Chestnut. His e-mail is on the Green Mountain Cobra's distribution list.

I'm disappointed in Mercury !

Tim

strictlypersonl · #11 (**permalink**) 11-29-2015, 05:46 AM

No matter what program you use, surface modelling is tedious to do and harder to learn. You might look at Blender's capabilities. For under $100, there are some commercial CAD programs that do reasonable surfaces, DesignCad for instance. Look on EBay for older versions.

CobraV8 · #12 (**permalink**) 11-29-2015, 07:32 AM

Rhino 3D is also very widespread, surface modling capabilities are excellent (NURBS surfaces as in Catia) https://www.rhino3d.com/

The full version is about $1000 I think, far less than any other software capable of doing similar things.

Surface modeling is considered something like the supreme discipline of CAD, you'll need a few tutorials to get started. However lots of stuff can be found on youtube and the internet.

Simon

*13* · #13 (**permalink**) 11-30-2015, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 55312

Hyde

Get a hold of John Chestnut. His e-mail is on the Green Mountain Cobra's distribution list.

I'm disappointed in Mercury !

Tim

i should Have thought about John!

Merc has surpassed me now. Unfortunately he's rewiring the house & can't be bothered.

RockBit · #14 (**permalink**) 02-09-2023, 08:04 AM

You might want to look at Alibre. $100 for a hobby license.

PaulProe · #15 (**permalink**) 02-09-2023, 07:04 PM

My main go-to 3D Cad is Alibre Pro. Their Alibre Atom3D is just about the same program with a few less bells and whistles.

Another option to look at is Fusion360. It's an AutoDesk product and is free for personal use. Full powered program but you are limited to 10 active files at a given time.